Terminal 3, Heathrow

Acre were contracted by the client Heathrow Airport Limited to supply and plant 15 semi mature Acer Rubrum trees to Terminal 3 departures forecourt, including bespoke suspended tree grilles and stainless steel tree trunk guards. Specific site constraints were to plant the trees within the growing season and whilst the terminal building was shut. This meant the works were carried out at night and using a 100 tonne mobile crane to lift the 4 tonne trees into position.

A fully automated irrigation system was designed and installed to give the required amount of fertiliser and irrigation at the right time in accordance with ground conditions.

Enabling works included the driving of sheet piles into the tree pit surround, welding support beams to these and manufacturing tree grilles to be secured to these to be filled with epoxy gravel. To save the trees from luggage trolley clashes a 20mm stainless steel trolley guard was manufactured to be secured to the beams.